Gibson Les Paul Junior Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 7-5308, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, molded black plastic hard shell case.
This is a well-worn but great feeling original 1957 Gibson Les Paul Junior, one of the most elegantly simple electric guitars ever designed. It shows some moderately heavy wear everywhere but remains a superb player's example of this classic '50s Gibson solid body with a medium weight mahogany body and very lively P-90 pickup.
The top sports a yellow/brown sunburst finish fading to an amber shade; the remainder is finished in dark mahogany. The mahogany neck has a lovely feel, with a deep, round but a slightly less chunky profile than some '50s Juniors. The pickup is moved slightly forward of the bridge compared to earlier examples to strengthen the bridge post area, as many 1954-6 Juniors had problems in this area.
As the name implies, the Les Paul Junior was the most basic of Gibson's 1950s signature line, with the single P-90 pickup at the bridge and simple bar bridge/tailpiece. This was an exercise in superbly effective minimalist design and the Junior's very lack of complexity worked perfectly then and now. Launched in mid-1954, the model was a success right out of the gate. Just under 3000 of these sold in 1957, nearly five times the number of Les Paul Standards shipped. This really brought home to Gibson's management that inexpensive solid body electric guitars "for the kids" were the wave of the future.
While designed as a student guitar, the Junior has become justly renowned as one of the crunchiest and most powerful of all straight rock guitars, with fantastic natural overdrive capabilities when paired with the right amp. The combination of the thick mahogany body and neck with the solidly dog-ear mounted P-90 and bar bridge maximizes tonal response. This is a superbly resonant Junior with a massive singing sound when the amp is cranked, and amazingly resonant even unplugged.
Since the late 1960's many players have come to prefer this model to all others for both heavy crunch rhythm and searing leads. From Leslie West to Mick Ralphs, Johnny Thunders to Paul Westerberg to Billie Joe Armstrong, Gibson's original 1950s Les Paul Junior has proven itself over and over to be the most basic of rock machines, as simple and effective as they come. This one is a genuine "Real Relic" looking like it has played thousands of gigs, still a 7.7 LB. gem of '50s Gibson greatness.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 11/16 in. (4.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.)., 7.7 lbs.
In an era where artificial relics are ever more common, this Junior is the real deal. It has been heavily used over the 65 years since its birth since the late 1950's and wears the scars proudly. There is typical Gibson lacquer checking most heavily to the top and a large and varied collection of dings, scratches and dents, particularly a swath of belt buckle wear on the back and dings to the rear edges. The back of the neck is worn to the wood over much of its length, while the headstock face has general wear with some heavy chipping off the upper corner.
The pickup and electronics are untouched original. All plastic hardware is complete except the always broken jackplate has been replaced with metal. The buttons on the restored Kluson Deluxe tuners are repros; the strips are original period pieces re-installed with larger holes in the headstock plugged. The nickel tailpiece and studs show some wear and the top of the tailpiece has wear spots into the metal under the strings. The adjustment screws in the tailpiece ends have been replaced. A modern compensated tailpiece is included in the case as an alternative. Unlike earlier 1950s stop tailpiece Gibsons the bridge is not leaning forward at all; the bushings and studs had recently been made longer to sit deeper into the body to solve this problem. This is plenty of leeway under the bridge to enable a very low action.
The guitar was refretted with considerably larger wire than the original; while we would usually not do this now it does make it especially friendly to heavy rock playing. The bone nut was replaced as well; the original is included. This Junior is an extremely resonant instrument even unplugged. A 65 year old, heavily used guitar this Junior is loaded with the bad attitude these honkers are known and loved for! It resides in a recent molded plastic HSC. Very Good + Condition.
